Do You Feel Sorry For Ed McMahon?

by PT | Print Print |

*mild rant warning*

Did anyone else catch Ed McMahon and his wife on Larry King last night?  Apparently Ed McMahon’s mansion is going into foreclosure.  Ed is $644,000 behind in payments on the $4.8 million mortgage.

So how did Ed get in this position?  Here’s his take from last night:  ‘’If you spend more money than you make, you know what happens,’’ McMahon said […] ‘’You know, a couple of divorces thrown in, a few things like that. And, you know, things happen.’’

Okay, not bad Ed, you at least acknowledge what happened.  But why are you going on Larry King and making a big deal of this?

Ed said: “There’s a lot of people [who] have problems and I’m hoping that this will help them help themselves. That’s what my plan is.”

Really?  If I was someone really struggling with potential foreclosure, an adjustable rate mortgage, and crooked lenders, I would be offended that Ed is comparing himself to me. 

In my opinion, a millionaire, who could get any type of mortgage he wanted, has no business being the spokesperson for the foreclosure issues facing the few who really got dupped.

I’m calling B.S. on Ed and his “troubles.”  I’m convinced he’s simply hyping this to get the house sold.

Oh, and did you catch the selling price of the home?  It’s listed at $6.25 Million.  So, if I calculate this correctly, Ed stands to take away over 1 million in equity when it sells.  Hey Ed.  Here’s a tip to get your house sold.  Lower your price, buddy.

His lawyer has apparently mentioned that they might start a donation fund for Ed and his situation.  So sad if this happens with all of the legit needs out there.

The Media Hype – The New York Times called Ed a “Housing Crisis Casualty.”  Really, NYT?  If he’s a “casualty” isn’t it a self-inflicted wound?

Do you feel sorry for Ed?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Photo by Alan Light

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  1. 15 Responses to “Do You Feel Sorry For Ed McMahon?”

  2. By Luke @ Money & Fitnes Blog on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    Always great to see rich people complaining as I wish I had that much equity in my house.

    No, I can’t say that I feel sorry for Ed McMahon at all. He never brought a check to my house so I don’t really care. Maybe he should be trying asking the people that he brought money to over time?


  3. By Ellen on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    People deserve fair, fixed, low-interest mortgages … Ed McMahon was irresponsible, not ripped off and misled like thousands of lower-income families. Nevertheless, kicking an 85-year-old out of their home, regardless of the reasons, isn’t something I would want to be responsible for. He is elderly, might as well let him relax and live out his years. And the Fed needs to finally do something to support the American people and stop running them into the ground.


  4. By Pete @ biblemoneymatters.com on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    Yeah, i have a hard time feeling sorry for him as well. He should have managed his wealth and relationships better – and if he couldn’t afford it – sold the house sooner.

    I also have a hard time feeling sorry for a lot of people who face foreclosure. Home ownership isn’t something everyone should be doing. People need to examine their priorities and know what they’re getting themselves into. You are responsible for your own actions, and no one forced you to get that mortgage you can’t afford. Yes the companies giving loans to just about everyone out there have a lot to answer for as well – but seriously people – have some personal responsibility!


  5. By Mrs. PT on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    Can’t everybody just give the poor guy a break? He did, after all, bring us Star Search…


  6. By Ellen on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    biblemoneymatters.com? Thought Christ was compassionate. Sure no one “forces” anyone into a mortgage they can’t afford, but are low-interest, fixed-rate mortgages readily available to middle-income families needing a home? No! So people are “forced” through lack of options into sub-optimal mortgages. Housing is a need, therefore, it is an area that is ripe for exploitation. Maybe regulating the banking industry wasn’t such a bad idea after all!


  7. By PT on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    @Ellen – People could rent. That’s an option.


  8. By RC@ThinkYourWayToWealth on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply

    I have trouble feeling sorry for him as well. Doesn’t really sound like he is taking responsibility-”You know, things happen…..” and blaming his divorces.


  9. By Pete @ biblemoneymatters.com on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply

    @ ellen – While having housing is a need, it isn’t a requirement to buy a home. Renting is a good option as well. For some perspectives on that I would refer you to beingfrugal.net.

    I think a lot of people have a “I want it now and I don’t want to wait and work for it” type mentality.

    Christ was compassionate, and I do my best to be compassionate as well. I do my best to help others in need. But, I’m also for personal responsibility, and for helping people to make wiser decisions. Buying a home when you can’t afford one is not a wise decision.


  10. By FFB on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

    I think this is great. I’m gonna contact a lawyer now and see if I can start up a donation to help me buy a home. Maybe that’s what we all need to do?!?

    I’m with you on calling BS on Ed. There’s people out there that could use his donations much more than he could. He’s crying about his million dollar home but did you see the homes that washed away recently. Those folks may need a donation.

    Reminds me of a person asking for change on the subway: “know what the best nation is? A Do-Nation!”


  11. By jo star on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

    Anyone need more Kleenex while I’m up getting a refill on maudlin beer.


  12. By Not A Niche on Jun 17, 2008 | Reply

    If this would be my only concern, I would be a happy man. How weak is that, crying on TV that he loses his multi million house. A slap in a face of people who are really suffering to get anything to eat day by day or lost their family because of a tragedy. Or whatever.

    Those people are complaining on a high level and would never stop. He probably complained some years ago that he couldn’t effort a 12 million home because he still had to pay off his Ferrari, Yacht and whatsoever!


  13. By Charles Michael Jones on Jun 19, 2008 | Reply

    The only thing I feel sorry over is the Realtors and Banks, somewhat for the US Government and much more for all the consumers that will be faced with the question, “Do I go for the Ethanol ideology for my fossil fuel vehicle or can I get it converted to electric or do I go and try to purchase a electric car with my small monetary amount hoping that it will make ends meet and I not lose my home”. It is a sham folks, it is your freedom that is being taken from you over the idea that America must play the OPEC swindler game and allow price gouging from a non protected source which would guarantee low prices without any increases. So why is this theft being allowed, it is similiar to robbing the US Treasury legally and don’t try to con me into believing it is cause of some VIP causing it cause it is over the supply not the demand. So America could have more oil drilling and America can get Ethanol started to be distributed to add to the gasolines and mix the product which is planned that someday to no more gasoline just Ethanol. If you had the opportunity by a government grant to get a free electric vehicle conversion of your own vehicle I just bet you would convert it instantly without anyother consideration so you would then become one of many out of the OPEC OilGrid and based on the projections of the rising demand by the year 2025 and the increased totals of the vehicles needing fuel (now Ethanol instead of gasoline) whatever is available will be still in short supply. This story can have a better tune to it, suppose the Banks and Realtors agreed to fund the Electric Vehicle Conversion Foundation so consumers could get a Free Electric vehicle Conversion and have price guarantees without increases. Wouldn’t that be a better position for Realtors to produce the land and the Banks the money for it to happen. Just ask Congress if it can be possible to support this concept instead of having to find a loan to purchase a new Electric Vehicle just out of a concept factory which gets its energy from Electricity or is a Hybrid, remember a smaller engine (4 cylinder) on Ethanol might be the worst idea that has ever been passed in Congress. So Mr. McMahon and family do yourselves a favor and join in with the trillions of folks that want to stop the foreclosure rate by promoting Free Electric Vehicle Conversion. Thanks.


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